Helping Families Conquer Shot Day Fear
Mighty Jo is an evidence-informed educational program that empowers parents and children to build confidence and coping skills for shots and medical procedures — together.
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Why Mighty Jo?
Shot fear affects up to 2 in 3 children and can lead to healthcare avoidance. Mighty Jo provides evidence-based tools to help families prepare — together.
Parent-Led Learning
Every module is designed for parents and children to experience together. Parents guide, children learn — building trust and confidence as a team.
Evidence-Informed
Grounded in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) principles and developed by pediatric psychologists. Skills include self-talk, deep breathing, guided imagery, and distraction.
Interactive & Engaging
Animated characters, video lessons, badge rewards, and an interactive Game Day Plan make learning fun and memorable for the whole family.
Our Course Bundles
Choose the right program for your family or practice.
Mighty Skills for Mighty Kids
Children learn five evidence-based coping skills, each building on the last, to prepare them for shot day.
Self-Talk
Understanding fight/flight and using positive self-talk to calm fears.
Deep Breathing
Belly breathing technique to reverse the stress response.
Guided Imagery
Creating a personal happy place using all five senses.
Distraction
Finding powerful distractions to shift focus during procedures.
Skill Practice
Breaking down the appointment into small, manageable steps.
Game Day Plan
Bringing it all together in a personalized shot day strategy.
The Why Behind Mighty Jo
Mighty Jo was born from personal experience and professional expertise. Two pediatric psychologists who understand needle distress firsthand created this program to help families everywhere.
Dr. Ely Schneider
PhD, HSP, Licensed Psychologist
Being diagnosed as a young kid with diabetes, I had to get shots daily and I experienced needle distress all the time. After becoming a psychologist and seeing kids suffering with shot anxiety, I knew there was a better way. That's how Mighty Jo was born!
Dr. Kavita Desai
PhD, Licensed Psychologist
My first memory of getting a shot involves literally running and hiding from the medical team. Ugh, I definitely had a strong fear of needles that stuck with me until I was an adult. And, learning that psychology can help kids fueled my desire to bring the knowledge to kids, parents, and clinicians. So being scared doesn't get in the way of being healthy.
Important: Mighty Jo is an educational program, not a clinical intervention. The content is designed to be used by parents with their children and is not a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice. All accounts are parent-managed; children do not create accounts or access content independently.